Today's theme is beginning with peace.
Beginnings are often assumed to be a chance for something new,
And this is seen as good.
But what can happen is that we take old patterns from the past with us into a new situation.
Maybe there are old hurts you want to run from.
Being again seems to be a good way to do this,
Except the peace you yearn for doesn't manifest in the new place or job or relationship or creative project because the ghost of the old wounds rise up.
Let's listen to a poem and do some gentle journaling in response.
Go ahead and take out your journal.
Mountain Lesson The blackbird laughs from the chokecherry tree.
Mountains can't talk,
Says she.
Proud of her birdness,
Her redness of wing,
She thinks of herself as the only one able to sing.
But what songs there are to greet the morning,
Balsam song,
White ash song,
Cloud song,
Dream song,
Song of blue sky hiding.
Do not ask the name of something if you are not patient enough to wait to hear it.
Everything has a name.
Everything sings a song.
The mountain told me her name.
I promised not to reveal it.
We'll write for two minutes now.
What is the name of an old hurt that you are still carrying?
And what does it want to tell you right now?
What is the name of the old hurt that you are still carrying?
What is the name of the old hurt that you are still carrying?
Good.
So you can finish the phrase you're writing and then put the journal to the side.
Now in response to the next poem we're going to meditate in a way that brings comfort to that old hurt.
The poem is called Take a Breath.
I see you under that rock.
You are older now but your brow still crinkles from past laughter.
Your past is a solid door.
You think it is locked.
It is not.
All boulders open from within.
The same holds true for what is yet to begin.
Cheer can be found on the mountaintop.
But to get there you must stop the endless bickering between joy and security.
Give them a toy to play with then walk away.
Star Line Jupiter waits for your arrival with jewels in his opened mouth.
Wait for him to speak.
Watch what falls out.
Mimic this.
Then you will know how to take a breath.
Let yourself settle into a comfortable position.
You might want to stretch first.
Let your shoulders come up and then back and then relax down.
Put one hand on your belly and take a deep breath in through your nose and feel the belly rise.
As you exhale feel the belly fall.
This is it.
This is belly breathing.
Imagine that you can take that old wound or hurt and cradle it under your hand.
Feel your inhale and your exhale begin to rock the hurt.
Feeling it comfort.
Inhale deeply.
Exhale completely.
Where you are now is perfectly fine.
Even any pain or discomfort you feel is okay.
As you breathe in deeply feel your chest and ribcage and belly rise to meet you with compassion.
Feel whatever you are feeling.
Release it through your breath.
We'll continue breathing together.
Focused on the belly.
Seeing what we are feeling.
Sitting with who we are.
Noticing as thoughts or feelings float through.
And not judging ourselves.
Just letting it be.
Who you are is perfectly fine.
Whatever you are feeling is okay.
Feel the compassion for yourself in your breath.
Feel how it is possible to simply sit with loving presence.
You are loved.
Each breath is a manifestation of this love.
You are alive.
Every feeling is a sign that you are alive.
Responding.
Growing.
Learning.
We'll take four deep breaths together.
Inhale to the count of four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Exhale four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Inhale four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Exhale four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Inhale four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Two,
One.
Inhale,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One.
Exhale,
Four,
Three,
Two,
One.
Let your breath return to a natural rhythm.
And feel yourself wrapped in gratitude for taking this time to be with yourself in a compassionate,
Loving way.
If you like now,
You can move and stretch.
Come back into present moment awareness.
Eyes open.
As we listen to the next poem.
No answer.
Sunlight on pine trees in the forest.
Mockingbird sings her crazy song.
Cardinals rustle in the oak to the south.
It is just after dawn.
I am facing west,
The land of water,
Emotion,
And tears.
But I feel nothing.
No sadness,
Frustration,
Or fears.
Is this a good thing?
I ask God,
Looking up to the sky.
Purple martins dip and sway halfway up to the clouds.
No answer.
No voices.
Just birds who continue to sing.
And one dove by herself on the power line.
Quiet.
No worries.
Not one single thing.
Maybe this is my answer when I look for a sign.
Search inside myself and find peace.
Watch the birds that surround me and know the way nature knows that this life is perfectly fine.
Go ahead and get your journal.
And you can write for as long as you like today.
There are a few questions so you may want to jot them down.
What is in your life that is perfectly fine?
What can you embrace and not run from?
What is not perfect but is acceptable?
What is what it is and is lovable just as it is?
Let yourself take your time with your journaling today as you answer these questions.
